NYK in First LNG Bunkering in Port of Kitakyushu

Shipping company NYK teamed up with Kyushu Electric Power, Saibu Gas, and The Chugoku Electric Power to carry out a truck-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering demonstration at the port of Kitakyushu.

As explained by NYK, the operation on May 15 was the first LNG bunkering in the Setouchi and Kyushu areas of western Japan and advances the four companies’ discussions on the commercialization of a new business in the region.

The LNG fuel was loaded onto a tank truck at the Hibiki LNG terminal in Kitakyushu city, transferred to a pier in the Asano district, and then supplied to the LNG-fueled tugboat Sakigake using the truck-to-ship method.

The NYK-owned Sakigake is Japan’s first LNG-fueled tugboat. It sailed to Kitakyushu from the port of Kawasaki in Yokohama prefecture for the demonstration.

The commercialization of LNG bunkering in the Setouchi and Kyushu areas has been discussed by the four companies since August 2018, and the May 15 demonstration will provide incentive for the acceleration of the plans, according to NYK.